How to address biased HS teacher

[Anonymous]

DC has a teacher with known conservative views on many social issues (pro-choice, against gay marriage, aligned with groups that do not believe in affirmative action or kids who are trans using their preferred gender bathroom) based on previous advocacy work.

This year DC wrote what we thought was an excellent paper related to about a particular historical moment in the LGBT rights movement, and got a poor grade. When she got the rubric and grading back many items that were marked off did not make any sense. When she tried to inquire with the teacher the teacher was very defensive and kept coming back to the point that the teacher did not agree with the thesis. The teacher also came down on DC for not presenting the other view point which is that LGBT rights are not a good thing. DC did mention that there is opposition from some groups, especially religious groups, but it was not half her paper because the assignment was not to present all sides of an issue but to pick a moment and make an argument about it. One of my good friends is a HS teacher and read the assignment and paper and was shocked about the grade and thought this needed to be brought up to the administration.

We are not sure what to advise DC to do next if anything. Is this something you would bring up and how would you do it? Would you go to the teacher first? The department head or the principal? This is a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has a teacher with known conservative views on many social issues (pro-choice, against gay marriage, aligned with groups that do not believe in affirmative action or kids who are trans using their preferred gender bathroom) based on previous advocacy work.

This year DC wrote what we thought was an excellent paper related to about a particular historical moment in the LGBT rights movement, and got a poor grade. When she got the rubric and grading back many items that were marked off did not make any sense. When she tried to inquire with the teacher the teacher was very defensive and kept coming back to the point that the teacher did not agree with the thesis. The teacher also came down on DC for not presenting the other view point which is that LGBT rights are not a good thing. DC did mention that there is opposition from some groups, especially religious groups, but it was not half her paper because the assignment was not to present all sides of an issue but to pick a moment and make an argument about it. One of my good friends is a HS teacher and read the assignment and paper and was shocked about the grade and thought this needed to be brought up to the administration.

We are not sure what to advise DC to do next if anything. Is this something you would bring up and how would you do it? Would you go to the teacher first? The department head or the principal? This is a public school.

I would go to the department chair or admin for that subject (can't tell if it's English or Social Studies.) I ask that someone look over her assignment with the rubric because the feedback your child received from the teacher didn't align with the rubric. Mention that the teacher said they didn't agree with her thesis but make it more about the rubric and paper itself.

[Anonymous]

nonymous wrote:
DC has a teacher with known conservative views on many social issues (pro-choice, against gay marriage, aligned with groups that do not believe in affirmative action or kids who are trans using their preferred gender bathroom) based on previous advocacy work.

This year DC wrote what we thought was an excellent paper related to about a particular historical moment in the LGBT rights movement, and got a poor grade. When she got the rubric and grading back many items that were marked off did not make any sense. When she tried to inquire with the teacher the teacher was very defensive and kept coming back to the point that the teacher did not agree with the thesis. The teacher also came down on DC for not presenting the other view point which is that LGBT rights are not a good thing. DC did mention that there is opposition from some groups, especially religious groups, but it was not half her paper because the assignment was not to present all sides of an issue but to pick a moment and make an argument about it. One of my good friends is a HS teacher and read the assignment and paper and was shocked about the grade and thought this needed to be brought up to the administration.

We are not sure what to advise DC to do next if anything. Is this something you would bring up and how would you do it? Would you go to the teacher first? The department head or the principal? This is a public school.



I would go to the department chair or admin for that subject (can't tell if it's English or Social Studies.) I ask that someone look over her assignment with the rubric because the feedback your child received from the teacher didn't align with the rubric. Mention that the teacher said they didn't agree with her thesis but make it more about the rubric and paper itself.

Always talk to the teacher first. Then, if you are not satisfied, talk to the AP in charge of that subject area. The department chair is just another teacher--they are not in a supervisory position.

[Anonymous]

I would normally say talk to the teacher but what could the teacher say in this case if the teacher is biased? It would just turn the teacher defensive which the teacher was already was with the student.

[Anonymous]

I would normally say talk to the teacher but what could the teacher say in this case if the teacher is biased? It would just turn the teacher defensive which the teacher was already was with the student.

The parent has only heard the student's side of it so far. They need to approach the teacher and see what they have to say before doing over their head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has a teacher with known conservative views on many social issues (pro-choice, against gay marriage, aligned with groups that do not believe in affirmative action or kids who are trans using their preferred gender bathroom) based on previous advocacy work.

This year DC wrote what we thought was an excellent paper related to about a particular historical moment in the LGBT rights movement, and got a poor grade. When she got the rubric and grading back many items that were marked off did not make any sense. When she tried to inquire with the teacher the teacher was very defensive and kept coming back to the point that the teacher did not agree with the thesis. The teacher also came down on DC for not presenting the other view point which is that LGBT rights are not a good thing. DC did mention that there is opposition from some groups, especially religious groups, but it was not half her paper because the assignment was not to present all sides of an issue but to pick a moment and make an argument about it. One of my good friends is a HS teacher and read the assignment and paper and was shocked about the grade and thought this needed to be brought up to the administration.

We are not sure what to advise DC to do next if anything. Is this something you would bring up and how would you do it? Would you go to the teacher first? The department head or the principal? This is a public school.

I meant pro-life (anti abortion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC has a teacher with known conservative views on many social issues (pro-choice, against gay marriage, aligned with groups that do not believe in affirmative action or kids who are trans using their preferred gender bathroom) based on previous advocacy work.

This year DC wrote what we thought was an excellent paper related to about a particular historical moment in the LGBT rights movement, and got a poor grade. When she got the rubric and grading back many items that were marked off did not make any sense. When she tried to inquire with the teacher the teacher was very defensive and kept coming back to the point that the teacher did not agree with the thesis. The teacher also came down on DC for not presenting the other view point which is that LGBT rights are not a good thing. DC did mention that there is opposition from some groups, especially religious groups, but it was not half her paper because the assignment was not to present all sides of an issue but to pick a moment and make an argument about it. One of my good friends is a HS teacher and read the assignment and paper and was shocked about the grade and thought this needed to be brought up to the administration.

We are not sure what to advise DC to do next if anything. Is this something you would bring up and how would you do it? Would you go to the teacher first? The department head or the principal? This is a public school.

Obviously report the teacher to Glenn Youngkin.

This is pretty common. I'm so sick of conservative teachers trying to indoctrinate our youth with their version of what is politically correct.

[Anonymous]

Go to the Department Head. Have the paper read by them. Do this quietly.

It happens. It has happened to all of us. Just depends on how much you want to take a stand. Likely the Dept Head knows it but just in case they don't.

[Anonymous]

What can the department head do if the department head is just another teacher without supervisory responsibilities?

[Anonymous]

OP is there a rubric that breaks down the point values?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can the department head do if the department head is just another teacher without supervisory responsibilities?

Nothing. Go to the teacher, then to the supervisory AP.

--HS teacher

[Anonymous]

What would you say to the teacher? How would you present the question?

[Anonymous]

DD had a teacher who expressed stereotypical views against certain racial groups. She would make comments about how certain students must be good at certain sports or other students must be good at math/science. She was an English teacher and it was obvious she felt only one group was good at writing. I spent the whole year wondering how to bring this up to the school and never did because it is such a difficult topic but I now spend way too much time thinking about how much I regret not raising it.

There must be many teachers like this who feel strongly on all political sides and most of them set aside their. biases when they walk into the classrooms but not all. I think more should be done to try to address this problem especially given what is going on with the whole critical race theory issue and the book banning nowadays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD had a teacher who expressed stereotypical views against certain racial groups. She would make comments about how certain students must be good at certain sports or other students must be good at math/science. She was an English teacher and it was obvious she felt only one group was good at writing. I spent the whole year wondering how to bring this up to the school and never did because it is such a difficult topic but I now spend way too much time thinking about how much I regret not raising it.

There must be many teachers like this who feel strongly on all political sides and most of them set aside their. biases when they walk into the classrooms but not all. I think more should be done to try to address this problem especially given what is going on with the whole critical race theory issue and the book banning nowadays.

That's the thing - if people don't want ideas on one side of the political spectrum in the classroom, they have to keep other sides out too. That's the whole idea of a viewpoint neutral classroom
-conservative who is very disgusted by what happened to OP's kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has a teacher with known conservative views on many social issues (pro-choice, against gay marriage, aligned with groups that do not believe in affirmative action or kids who are trans using their preferred gender bathroom) based on previous advocacy work.

This year DC wrote what we thought was an excellent paper related to about a particular historical moment in the LGBT rights movement, and got a poor grade. When she got the rubric and grading back many items that were marked off did not make any sense. When she tried to inquire with the teacher the teacher was very defensive and kept coming back to the point that the teacher did not agree with the thesis. The teacher also came down on DC for not presenting the other view point which is that LGBT rights are not a good thing. DC did mention that there is opposition from some groups, especially religious groups, but it was not half her paper because the assignment was not to present all sides of an issue but to pick a moment and make an argument about it. One of my good friends is a HS teacher and read the assignment and paper and was shocked about the grade and thought this needed to be brought up to the administration.

We are not sure what to advise DC to do next if anything. Is this something you would bring up and how would you do it? Would you go to the teacher first? The department head or the principal? This is a public school.

Obviously report the teacher to Glenn Youngkin.

This is pretty common. I'm so sick of conservative teachers trying to indoctrinate our youth with their version of what is politically correct.

What school district are you in?!?! Clearly not Arlington, or just about anywhere in Northern Virginia where it is quite the opposite. Or are you being sarcastic?
Our experience is quite different. Spouse and I are more liberal; but have a child who is not and who constantly struggles to feel comfortable in classroom discussions because they feel it is obvious that the rest of the class has a different view and that the teachers show their very liberal bias and side with the classmates. Teachers shouldn't be demonstrating bias in their teaching or in their grading - they should be more objective facilitators in discussions to bring out multiple viewpoints in helping students figure out their own thoughts and beliefs. Assignments are to be graded on how well the assignment was completed, not whether the teacher agrees with the premise. Both of our kids tend to take the side of an argument in an assignment that most or all of their classmates don't. One does it because they tend to hold a minority viewpoint; the other does it because they want to be independent and for their work to stand out from everyone else's.

I agree with the comment to report the teacher to Youngkin's hotline. That's precisely what it's for - reporting teaching that makes a student feel "discomfort" or for teaching things that are divisive....which this assignment clearly is.